Anyone have advice on vaccine allergies?

[BamaFan121s]

Drama aside, I keep seeing one thing being stated repeatedly: "Is your dog going to be around wildlife?" Sure, under normal circumstances, wild animals will avoid humans and not linger in heavily populated areas and will avoid humans if they encounter them, but if it's an animal infected with rabies, "normal circumstances" are out the door. Not at all uncommon for a wild or domesticated animal to encroach on places they normally wouldn't where you'd think it was perfectly safe if they are infected--a park, your yard, anywhere. Not to mention other dogs that have owners who don't care for them properly who could show up heaven knows when. So the 'keep your dog away from wild animals' argument isn't valid, IMO. It's not that simple. (Then again, is anything EVER 'that simple?')

[ladyjane]

Originally Posted by BamaFan121s

Drama aside, I keep seeing one thing being stated repeatedly: "Is your dog going to be around wildlife?" Sure, under normal circumstances, wild animals will avoid humans and not linger in heavily populated areas and will avoid humans if they encounter them, but if it's an animal infected with rabies, "normal circumstances" are out the door. Not at all uncommon for a wild or domesticated animal to encroach on places they normally wouldn't where you'd think it was perfectly safe if they are infected--a park, your yard, anywhere. Not to mention other dogs that have owners who don't care for them properly who could show up heaven knows when. So the 'keep your dog away from wild animals' argument isn't valid, IMO. It's not that simple. (Then again, is anything EVER 'that simple?')

Exactly. I worked in Public Health for 15 years and saw the results of people not following guidelines regarding illnesses and ignoring preventative measures.

[xmasbaby75]

I don't want to tell you what to do, but I do want to tell you what happened to me, and then you can decide for yourself ...

First off, let me say that this vaccine issue is a very sensitive one for me. I want to start by saying that I am not anti-vaccine, but I am against the over-vaccination of our pets. Here is my story for those of you who do not know ...

My Brandi had her puppy shots and everything was fine. Then it was time for her first adult vaccines and she had a severe reaction - we had to rush her back to the vet and she was given a shot to counteract the reaction.

Then, just 1 year later, we were "due" for vaccines again (I found out later that adult vaccines are actually effective for 7-10 years) but we went back to the vet for vaccines, and given the fact that she had a previous reaction, she was also given a shot to prevent any reactions. Well, without going into the very long and painful story, I'll just say that I lost my baby girl that night (just this past April 20th), and she was a perfectly healthy 2 1/2 year old baby - and it was all due to a DHPP vaccine that she really didn't even need.

So, without going into my feelings and emotions, I will just state this fact (that I wish I had known ahead of time) once a dog has a reaction to a vaccine, it gets worse and worse each time. What happened to my Brandi is not common, and I am not trying to scare you, but it can happen - and it did, and I just don't want to hear about it ever happening again if it can be prevented. So, if I were in you shoes, I would not ever vaccinate again.

[shodanusmc]

Originally Posted by bribunny

Um.. I'm not sure how to respond to this. First off, I posted here for a little advice and you completely bashed me and my decisions. I made the decision to vaccinate her for rabies based on a lot of information. We live out in the country with a lot of woods. We constantly find animals in the woods and they could carry rabies. Our city also requires that any dog within city limits must be vaccinated. The past reaction was due to size, but since Bri has grown since then, we felt it would be safer. We were wrong, I understand that. But, that does not mean you have the right to come and tell me I didn't research or use common sense.

I just hope you will choose to not be so hateful before knowing the situation. I had 3 different vets look at her after the first reaction, I have done what I know to do.

It sucks to come here for help and get bashed. Just think about it.

Her intent was not to get you all fired up. She was just being compassionate and offering you advice and an alternative. She does have a right to offer her opinion as this is a public forum. There was no hate at all, just concern. Relax, step back, smile, and keep asking questions and sharing. What part of NC are you in? I was stationed at Lejeune years ago, and Asheville is one of my favorite cities in the USA.

[gemy]

Originally Posted by ladyjane

Exactly. I worked in Public Health for 15 years and saw the results of people not following guidelines regarding illnesses and ignoring preventative measures.

I live in a very urban city and we have our share of wildlife, raccoons, foxes, and coyotes. So our dogs are vaccinated against rabies, even my "indoor" cat.

[bribunny]

Thanks for the advice. I will start researching as soon as possible. We just found out we are expecting #3 and I'm super sick.

Just wanted to clear a few things up though. My vet does not charge for visits just what get's done. With this rabies vaccine we payed only $10 and there was no charge for any treatment when she had the reaction. The vet is mostly an animal hospital, so I feel they are knowledgeable in her reactions. We have never spent a ton of money at the vet and so I cannot say they are there only to make money.

Also, we live outside the city limits but are very close to the city and we have wild animals in the yards constantly. Just last week, my neighbor had a bat in her garage, and another had 3 deer in her FENCED in back yard.

I took the chance of getting her vaccinated and my vet said her next appointment would either need to be when she gets spayed or in 3 years when the vaccine wears off.

But, now I wonder about spaying and putting her under with her being allergic!

[mackenzie2270]

That happend to my brothers dog. Yes they can be allergic to the rabies shot. There nose swells and have a hard time breathing. I have only see this a couple of times. If I hadn't see this before my brothers dog would have died he rushed her back to the vet and all was well.

[Mitzis Mom]

The newest findings confirmed my hunch that most of the vaccines are not necessary b/c the puppy shots they get are for lifetime. Sadly most vets are not up to date on this research and/or just see the vaccines as a steady income they can rely on. Even the heartworm prevention is not really necessary if the dog is tested every 4 to 6 months. Better to just have some blood taken then to put poison into their fragile bodys month after months.

Here is a good website with more info:

Top Natural Holistic Dog Health Care Book: Multiple Award Winner

[audie]

I was given a Yorkie that had belonged to someone who thinks that vets are just money-grubbers, and that vaccines and other preventative meds and procedures are just a way of lining their pockets. She said the dog had a very "laid back" personality and didn't bark, never got excited, etc. In truth, he was a very sick little dog with 3 different kinds of parasites in his digestive tract that hadn't had any vaccines at 10 months. He had runny bowel movements, was lethargic, and didn't have much appetite.
I took him to the vet, had a complete examination done, got his vaccines up to date and treatment for the parasites and now I've got a happy, healthy, barking, running, playful little dog that I don't have to worry about getting rabies from another dog, cat, mouse, rat, squirrel or other animal he might encounter. He has a huge appetite (for a little dog), regular bm's, his coat looks so much better and has the personality of a dog 10 times his size.
If you don't trust your vet, find one you CAN trust. I've known my vet since we were both in college and she does it because she loves animals. Sure, she is making a good living but she does care and has given our dogs the treatment she has judged to be the best for them.

[Kirby]

I am so sorry to hear about your baby girl. I can understand why you would be warning others and I appreciate it. My parent's Yorkie got a vaccination against Lyme Disease. So did my Yorkie. Mine was fine. My parents ended up taking their little girl back to the vets because she had a reaction. She is okay, but if a human child had a bad reaction to a vaccine, it would give one pause about getting it done again. The rabies vaccine is a tough one. I am for preventative medicine, but if you trust your vet, I would share these stories and your concerns with him/her and not worry about who's making a profit.

Please know my comments are not meant to be critical of anyone. This was a great thread to have started and has really got me thinking.

Thank you!

Originally Posted by xmasbaby75

I don't want to tell you what to do, but I do want to tell you what happened to me, and then you can decide for yourself ...

First off, let me say that this vaccine issue is a very sensitive one for me. I want to start by saying that I am not anti-vaccine, but I am against the over-vaccination of our pets. Here is my story for those of you who do not know ...

My Brandi had her puppy shots and everything was fine. Then it was time for her first adult vaccines and she had a severe reaction - we had to rush her back to the vet and she was given a shot to counteract the reaction.

Then, just 1 year later, we were "due" for vaccines again (I found out later that adult vaccines are actually effective for 7-10 years) but we went back to the vet for vaccines, and given the fact that she had a previous reaction, she was also given a shot to prevent any reactions. Well, without going into the very long and painful story, I'll just say that I lost my baby girl that night (just this past April 20th), and she was a perfectly healthy 2 1/2 year old baby - and it was all due to a DHPP vaccine that she really didn't even need.

So, without going into my feelings and emotions, I will just state this fact (that I wish I had known ahead of time) once a dog has a reaction to a vaccine, it gets worse and worse each time. What happened to my Brandi is not common, and I am not trying to scare you, but it can happen - and it did, and I just don't want to hear about it ever happening again if it can be prevented. So, if I were in you shoes, I would not ever vaccinate again.

[cally930]

Originally Posted by Raymond's Mom

I don't find this post to be bashing, just giving some excellent advice. Vets make their "bread and butter" giving yearly vaccinations to everyone's dogs. That's how they pay for the pretty new clinics that most have to have. And are most of the shots necessary...no. Can they harm your dog...yes. And rabies is the worst for potential harm. So weigh the pros and cons. Is the yorkie outside and around wildlife? Do you have small children around that the dog might bite? If not I would NOT give rabies. And the number of vaccinations that the little yorkie in question had received was starting to border on ridiculous. That vet was into making as much money off the customer as possible and at the dogs expense.

OMG! Are you for real?!?!?

[shodanusmc]

Originally Posted by cally930

OMG! Are you for real?!?!?

Iwill bet you $50,000 that she is for real, and she makes a valid point. That is her opinion, and she is entitled to it. Now, are you for real?

[BamaFan121s]

Originally Posted by Mitzis Mom

Even the heartworm prevention is not really necessary if the dog is tested every 4 to 6 months.

Tested for 4-6 months for what, exactly? (This caught my attention as I am a stickler for hw preventative.)

[celstu1]

My Dexter is allergic to the distemper vaccine. He now has an pain med shot, then a benedryl shot, then the vaccine. This really helps him a lot but I know what you mean by scary, he got hives all over his little body and his eyes swelled shut. I called the ER vet and they told me to give him childrens benedryl. I did and within an hour he was fine but I was up all night worried about him!

[PrincessDiana]

Originally Posted by Mitzis Mom

Even the heartworm prevention is not really necessary if the dog is tested every 4 to 6 months. Better to just have some blood taken then to put poison into their fragile bodys month after months.

I am all FOR limiting the amount of medication that goes into my dogs' bodies but again, this is another case of misinformation.

Heartworms are DEADLY. Microfilariae, the microscopic larvae of heartworms are injected into the dog's bloodstream once they are bitten by an infected mosquito. There, they circulate and grow until they are carried into the heart and take up residence in the pulmonary artery, 4 to 5 months after infection. Most dogs show NO sign of infection until this stage. The two (and only) tests that are currently being used to detect heartworms, the blood antigen test and a microscopic screen of the blood for microfilariae are INFECTIVE until the worms are around 6 months into the infection. As you can see, at this point they are already living in the heart. This can cause all sorts of complications for the dog. Treatment of heartworms is both expensive, dangerous, and difficult for the dog. They are treated with an ARSENIC based drug that kills all the worms in the body. However, since the worms live in the pulmonary artery (the one that connects the lungs to the heart), lots of movement from the dog can cause the dead worms to spill into the lungs, killing the dog. Treatment takes months and the dog must remain kenneled until it tests negative for heartworms. It's not something I would ever miss with.

I honestly do not mean to argue but I SO agree with ladyjane about the disastrous results of the public not following preventative health guidelines. I have no qualms with hollistic medicine. In fact, we see a hollistic vet, limit vaccines, and feed prey-model raw) but the health recommendations are out there for a reason! I would just hate for an innocent reader to read something like this post, forgo all heartworm medication, and end up with a dead dog.